Compare towns
North Hampton vs Center Harbor vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Center Harbor has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | North Hampton | Center Harbor | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543 |
955Lowest |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
— | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 120 in NH | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | — | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.